Italy tree collapses in Massafra and Terni spark safety concerns

Recent incidents involving falling trees in Massafra and Terni have raised urgent concerns regarding urban greenery maintenance and public safety in Italy.

In Massafra, a large pine branch collapsed during the night near the Giovanni Pascoli institute, blocking access to the school. The political movement Italia Viva – Casa Riformista Massafra has called for immediate technical inspections of trees near educational facilities, citing concerns that improper pruning and lack of monitoring could lead to tragedies during school hours. The group also questioned the effectiveness of a 1.4 million euro public greenery maintenance contract.

In Terni, a large pine fell on via Alfonsine in early September, narrowly avoiding pedestrians. Following this, firefighters and local police intervened to remove dangerous hanging branches near the via Montefiorino underpass. These events follow a May 2024 ordinance by Mayor Stefano Bandecchi, which ordered the removal of several pines due to poor health and environmental stress. Residents expressed growing concern over tree stability along high-traffic roads, especially given recent extreme weather and high winds.